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I have no idea of it's helpful, and you certainly didn't ask me for it, but here are some things I've learned about books in the past few years:
Glossy covers don't photograph well. Matt is best. This matters, particularly if you want to woo the #bookstagram crowd (you do)
Glossy covers don't photograph well. Matt is best. This matters, particularly if you want to woo the #bookstagram crowd (you do)
Cover design is almost as important to me as the book's content.
Readers are often visually and aesthetically driven creatures. A striking cover helps indie and self-pubbers to cut through and be noticed.
Also, it's a chance to visually represent your writing persona and style.
Readers are often visually and aesthetically driven creatures. A striking cover helps indie and self-pubbers to cut through and be noticed.
Also, it's a chance to visually represent your writing persona and style.
Writing a book is an awesome achievement. Getting it published even more so. Yay you!
Doesn't give you a licence to be a pompous dick, though. Being nice to other humans is still valued and more important than however many words you've collated into a cohesive, portable unit.
Doesn't give you a licence to be a pompous dick, though. Being nice to other humans is still valued and more important than however many words you've collated into a cohesive, portable unit.
There are a lot of different ways to write a book. Pantser, plotter, scattergun, diagrammised, whatever...
...there is no right or wrong way. Writing doesn't belong to any one school or technique. It belongs to everyone. The only way to write a book is...to write a book
...there is no right or wrong way. Writing doesn't belong to any one school or technique. It belongs to everyone. The only way to write a book is...to write a book
Editors are heroes
If someone buys your book and takes the time to share that they have publicly, always, always, always say thank you.
Readers are oxygen. I love and appreciate every damn one
Readers are oxygen. I love and appreciate every damn one
Reviews are great and wonderful and important, but reading them obsessively is badddddd for you, trust me.
It's worth thinking about the size and weight of a book if you plan on sending out lots of signed copies, particularly if you're perpetually skint like I am. The heavier it is, the more it costs to post.
Commas are amazing
Social media is an amazing portal to sales, opportunities and advice, if it's done well. Invest in it, and it'll pay dividend (or at least it has for me)
If you have a book that isn't being picked up, because it's too short, long, niche, off trend, whatever: just publish the damn thing yourself. What have you got to lose? Diddly squat, that's what
A book is a book is a book, to me. I don't care how it was published, or by whom. If it's a good one, that's all I care about
Ebooks and kindle sales make up the majority of my income. Don't assume everyone is still buying paperbacks. Also, don't underestimate paperbacks. Cater for all tastes (I need to start cracking on audio books)
Self-deprecating humour is a thing, I get it. I do it. I know why authors love it.
But telling people 'I wrote a book, it's a bit shit, you probably shouldn't buy it' is going to result in, drum roll please...
Nobody buying it.
Trust me, it doesnt work. Been there, done that.
But telling people 'I wrote a book, it's a bit shit, you probably shouldn't buy it' is going to result in, drum roll please...
Nobody buying it.
Trust me, it doesnt work. Been there, done that.
HOWEVER: a little humility doesn't hurt. It can be just as off-putting to write a long and loving ode to your own book and then thrust it under people's noses time and time again.
Sorry chaps, but it's a fine, delicate balance we have to find. Humble but confident. Fun, eh?
Sorry chaps, but it's a fine, delicate balance we have to find. Humble but confident. Fun, eh?
People who like writing books like giving out unsolicited advice. Like me. Exactly like wot I'm doing.
Formatting a book for publication is the single most frustrating task known to human kind, end of story, no discussion, all further questions to be submitted by email to kindlecreateisthedevilsinvention@gmail.com
Finishing a book is a huge emotional event.
Many of us crash heavily after doing so. Like, heavily. Like, sleeping for three days straight followed by bouts of crying and drinking and questioning everything in life.
Or mayhap that's just me
Many of us crash heavily after doing so. Like, heavily. Like, sleeping for three days straight followed by bouts of crying and drinking and questioning everything in life.
Or mayhap that's just me
There, now that I got that little burst of condescension out of the way, I feel tons better.
Seriously, I know it's eye-roll inducing, but if it helps someone just starting out like I was two years ago even just a little, then I'm happy
Seriously, I know it's eye-roll inducing, but if it helps someone just starting out like I was two years ago even just a little, then I'm happy
